Top Hagel staffer to head GOP in August (Senate race Ne.)

[Omaha Steve]

Full story (reg req): http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2213966



Published Friday
July 28, 2006

Top Hagel staffer to head GOP in August

BY ROBYNN TYSVER


WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Republicans are bringing home a political heavy hitter - who has experience running against Democratic U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson - to run the party in the month of August.

Lou Ann Linehan will take a leave of absence as Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel's chief of staff to serve as interim director of the Nebraska Republican Party until early September.

Linehan ran Hagel's successful 1996 campaign against then-Gov. Nelson and has extensive GOP ties in the state.

Nelson went on to win a U.S. Senate seat in 2000. He is currently running for re-election against Republican Pete Ricketts, a former Ameritrade executive in Omaha who is making his first bid for public office.

[depakid]

1. Hagel's successful 1996 campaign against then-Gov. Nelson

The only reason why Hagel won that one is because HIS company- which he had a controlling interest in ES&S- was counting the votes.

That year, the Washigton Post (before it became Pravda) called it the upset of the year- and his later victory against another opponent next time around scored such an unlikely margin of victory that people got suspicuious.

Then and only then did his ownership interest in ES&S come oput.

The Hill reportedat that time that the mater was going to be reviewed by the Ethics committee- LOL.

I don't think so. Basically, there's no such thing anymore- especially if the person is a Republican.

Personally, I think the man should have gone to prison for that- and in a LOT of Western Countries he would have.

[AX10]

2. Hagel is an extremly sneaky SOB.

Who among the masses would expect Chuck Hagel of all people to be stealing elections?

[NEDem]

3. Sorry I think your rhetoric is tired

"The only reason why Hagel won that one is because HIS company- which he had a controlling interest in ES&S- was counting the votes."

If you lived in Nebraska you'd know that was simply not true.

I'm not saying it hasn't happened in other places, but I'm certain it wasn't the reason Nelson lost. Hagel is a VERY popular person in this state, most Dems would rather have another Hagel than have Nelson.

Nelson was Governor at the time of the race, therefore all election commissioners, in all 93 counties, were Nelson appointies. I knew the 2 Commissioners in the 2 most populist counties. Very liberal Dems. Its not true and it just didn't happen.

So give up the tired ESS theory, its simply not true, at least not in that race.

[depakid]

4. Of course there's no way to prove it

But it's mighty suspicious- and at any rate- not only unethical, but IMO- it ought to be criminal.

BTW: I could care less about Nelson- as far as I'm concerned the Democratic party is much better off without him- so if he loses, all he'll get is crocodile tears from me.